Music Review : Deafheaven – Sunbather (2013, Deathwish Inc.)
American
Black Metal has gained respect since a few years and with the exception of Absu from Texas, few BM acts have been
recognized as worth the genre. In the recent years, Nachtmystium has been respected with their revisits of Pink Floyd’s
Meddle atmosphere and textures with Assassins : Black Meddle, Part I.
Put aside the crap from Blake Judd. There’s also Wolves in the Throne Room
that are one of the most interesting BM acts from the US.
Lately,
with easier ways to record, a bunch of talented and untalented musicians have
formed Black Metal bands and the quantity of BM releases has increased
considerably. Amongst this genre many imitators of Darkthrone, Immortal,
Satyricon were appearing but few have taken elements of the genre to elevate
them in a more personal approach to music and adapt it.
Deafheaven
is a brighter star in the sky when it comes to the creativity of their music.
They elevated their sound close to the elegance of the early BM releases of Ulver (Nattens Madrigal for example). Not afraid to indulge more than
wrath and angered occult and satanist lyrics. This era of BM is dead and now
laughable. The most enduring acts of the genre have let Satanism and treat
about humanity, nihilism, mythology, littérature, philosophy, and the darker
side of the human mind. With Deafheaven themes are closer to a North American
mindset and are introspective, melancholic, and less conventional BM.
Structured
with four songs and three interludes, Sunbather
is a beautiful yet dark journey into modern BM with elements of shoegazing and
psychedelic rock. Unlike many American Black Metal bands Deafheaven is no
carbon copy of its influence. Many people can make a BM record but few can
master this music and actually make something refreshing and this appealing.
After
a few listens it is easy to state that even if I missed this release in 2013, I
would definitely put it on my best of the year 2013 list.
8.9
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